All eyes were on Joe Burrow last season as the AFC North franchise, Cincinnati Bengals selected the former LSU man as the first overall pick at the 2020 NFL Draft. However, it was another rookie who emerged as a standout performer midway through the season. That was the Los Angeles Chargers QB, Justin Herbert.

The former University of Oregon man was the sixth overall pick last season behind Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. He was largely expected to play backup behind the experienced Tyrod Taylor in 2020, but a freak lung injury to Taylor forced coach Anthony Lynn to hand Herbert his first start of the season in Week 2 itself.

It was trial by fire for the young quarterback who went up against 2019 Super Bowl LIV champions, Kansas City Chiefs. Although the Chargers did suffer a loss, Herbert did enough to convince the Chargers’ faithful that he can be their franchise quarterback in the near future.

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Justin Herbert tipped for a bright future ahead of the 2021 NFL season

After a strong outing last season, Justin Herbert was adjudged NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He concluded his debut season with 4,336 yards with 31 passing TDs against 10 interceptions.

Speaking to the media ahead of the preseason, the newly appointed Los Angeles Chargers HC Brandon Staley had nothing but words of optimism for his young starlet.

He said, “He’s so authentic and I think that that’s what people appreciate about him so much, and I think that now that he’s at the beginning and he’s been able to compete at this level and produce at this level, I think it’s only going to give him more confidence.”

“With any type of player in the NFL, confidence is so important. For him to have been able to play like that, I think you know that he belongs and at the same time all the good players know that there’s so much work to be done because there’s a lot that each guy can improve on, and that’s kind of how Justin’s wired and that’s why he’s been so much fun to work with so far,” Staley said via the team’s official website.

Herbert has all the tools to succeed with the Chargers in the coming years. With Staley, the LA-based franchise now has a young and determined new head coach. Can they make the NFL Playoffs in 2021? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

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